Athletic movement trainer

ABSTRACT

An athletic movement trainer comprising a belt, ankle straps, and an elasticized, bungee-type cord. The cord passes through a ring, such as a screw eye, attached to the belt. Each end of the cord is adjustably connected to an ankle strap so that the cord will remain relaxed as long as the sportsman maintains the proper athletic position but will become tensioned when the athlete deviates from the correct posture or stance. Because the ring does not prevent all movement of the cord, the trainer merely resists, rather than restricts, the upward movement of the athlete. The trainer thereby &#34;reminds&#34; the sportsman to resume the proper athletic position without preventing him or her from deviating from the position when required.

This invention relates to a device for use in teaching athletes,particularly tennis players, to maintain proper positioning of the lowerbody for improved performance during practice and competition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Development of proper lower body movement techniques serves as afoundation for optimum performance in virtually all movement-basedsports. Whether an athlete is positioned in the batter's box awaiting arapidly approaching fastball, in the lane anticipating the rebound froma missed field-goal attempt, or at the baseline expecting a powerfulserve, his or her ultimate success in responding to the anticipatedevent depends in great measure upon the proper positioning of the lowerbody. While instructors of students of the various sports long haverecognized the importance of teaching suitable lower body movementbehavior habits to their pupils, they previously have been forced to doso only through observing each pupil and illustrating the propertechniques once the contest or event has been completed.

Because demonstrative, after-the-fact feedback from a coach orinstructor does not always produce satisfactory results for playersneeding constant reminders to develop good positioning habits, thesporting industry has turned to mechanical teaching aids to improveperformance. For example, a wide variety of tools have been created toassist golfers in learning and developing proper swinging techniques.U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,893,736 and 3,940,144 disclose two such devices, whichact as positioning means ensuring proper placement of the feet, flexingof the knees, and swiveling of the hips during various golfing strokes.While each of these teaching tools is designed for use or is capable ofbeing utilized while a golfer is actually on the course participating ina practice or competitive round, neither device contemplates use whenrapid foot movement is required for extended periods of time. Of course,such footwork is neither necessary nor desirable while playing golf.

Other sports, however, such as baseball, basketball, tennis, andvolleyball, demand extensive rapid lower body movement during numerousphases of the games. Athletes desiring to enhance their performance inthese sports must learn to maximize the efficiency and fluidity of theirleg movements and to maintain correct weight distributions andpositioning of the feet and knees. For these athletes no device haspreviously been developed to teach proper lower body movement techniqueswhile they are practicing or competing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The athletic movement trainer of the present invention provides asimple, easy to use device which firmly but gently "reminds" a studentto maintain proper positioning of the lower body. Because the device isdesigned to avoid restricting the student's freedom of movement it maybe worn constantly during practice or competition, even when rapid lowerbody movement is required. Consequently, the trainer described here isadaptable for use by athletes competing in a wide variety ofmovement-based sports.

The present invention consists of three basic parts: a belt worn aboutthe waist of the athlete; ankle straps worn about the ankles; and anelastic, bungee-type cord which passes freely through a ring positionedat the back of the belt and connects the straps. Features of the beltinclude cellular foam padding for a more comfortable fit and vinylcoating of its exterior surfaces to resist the absorption ofperspiration and enhance durability. An adjustable clip structureattached near each end of the cord permits adjustment of the cord lengthdepending upon the height of the athlete and the type of movement to betaught and also functions to attach the cord to the straps. Hook andloop fasteners on the ankle straps allow for adjustable placement of thestraps about the ankles, and sturdy nylon loops receive the clips of thecord.

The movement trainer is designed to be put on the wearer quickly andeasily. To utilize the device the athlete merely buckles the belt aboutthe waist, attaches a strap to each ankle, and clips one end of the cordto each strap. The cord then may be adjusted so that it remains slackwhile the athlete maintains the appropriate athletic position, generallywith knees flexed, but becomes tensioned when the athlete deviates fromthat position. The elastic resistance of the cord gently "reminds" thesportsman in such a situation that an improper body movement techniqueis being used. Because the cord merely resists movement rather thanrestricting it as an isometric exerciser might do, the device of thepresent invention may be worn even when the athlete must performmovements that necessarily tension the cord.

The athletic movement trainer described herein assists the athlete indeveloping a variety of favorable techniques for positioning and movingthe lower body. The present invention encourages the athlete to maintaina lower center of gravity and helps to improve balance by causing theathlete to distribute much of the body weight on the balls of the feet.Lessened reaction and recovery time and increased fluidity of movementalso may occur due to a decrease in the energy and motion needed to movefrom one place to another while practicing or competing. The trainer ofthe present invention helps develop the lower body muscle groups,resulting in increased strength and endurance, and assists the athletein maintaining proper hitting stances particularly in racquet sportssuch as tennis and racquetball. These players also may improve the powerand control of their strokes because of the more stable support baseencouraged through use of the athletic movement trainer to properlyposition the feet.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anathletic movement trainer that "reminds" an athlete to maintain properpositioning of the lower body.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide anathletic movement trainer that is simple and easy to use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an athleticmovement trainer that does not substantially restrict the movement ofthe sportsman and is adaptable for use by athletes engaged in a widevariety of movement-based sports.

Other features and objects of the invention will become apparent fromreference to the detailed description of the invention and theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the athletic movement traineras it would normally be used to teach an athlete to maintain certainpositioning of the lower body.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the athletic movement trainer shownin FIG. 1 connected to a human body.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the athletic movement trainer shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the belt of the athletic movement trainer takenalong lines 4--4 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the belt taken along lines 5--5 inFIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring principally to FIGS. 1-3, the athletic movement trainer 8 ofthe present invention consists of a belt 10 to be worn around the waist,straps 14 to be worn around the ankles, and an elasticized cord 18serving to connect belt 10 to straps 14 as shown. Belt 10 typically ismade of leather, includes a conventional fastening means such as abuckle 20 for fastening about the waist, and embodies a cellular foampadding 22 (FIGS. 3-5) designed to conform to the curvature of thelumbar region of the back. Belt 10 also may be coated with liquid vinyl23 (FIGS. 3 and 5) to prevent it from absorbing perspiration produced bythe athlete's body.

Protruding outward from the center rear portion of belt 10 and anchoredto belt 10 by rectangular metal plates 24 and 44, nuts 46 and 48,washers 50 and 52, and rivets 54, is a ring 26, such as a conventionalscrew eye (FIG. 5). Ring 26 has an inner diameter larger than thediameter of cord 18, so that the cord 18 may pass freely through it.Plates 24 and 44 also serve to distribute the downward forces present onring 26 over a greater surface area, decreasing the wear on the ring 26while trainer 8 is in use. Of course, those skilled in the art willrecognize that belt 10 could include a variety of rings and anchoringmeans different from those specifically described and illustrated. Forexample, ring 26 could be welded to plates 24 and 44 (or to a singleplate). Alternatively, ring 26 and plates 24 and 44 (or a single plate)could be molded from a single piece of plastic, avoiding the need toattach ring 26 to plates 24 and 44 in a separate manufacturing step.

Anchoring clips 28 (FIG. 3) attached near each end of cord 18 serve bothas a mechanism for attaching the cord 18 to ankle straps 14 and as ameans for adjusting the working length of the cord 18. Each end of cord18 may be passed through a retaining loop 30 connected to clip 28,looped back upon itself, and passed back through loop 30 until theunneeded section of cord 18 extends beyond the loop 30. Because loop 30has an opening slightly less than twice the size of cord 18, the cord 18must be forced back through the loop 30 and therefore is secured inplace while trainer 8 is in use. Additional retaining loops 31 may beused to prevent the section of cord 18 extending beyond loop 30 fromfluttering while the trainer 8 is utilized. Receiving loops 32 of anklestraps 14 receive clips 28, connecting each end segment of cord 18 to astrap 14. Straps 14 also include hook 34 and loop 36 fasteners forattaching the straps 14 to the ankles, although other suitable fasteningmeans may be used instead.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the present invention as it would be used by anathlete 38. To utilize trainer 8, athlete 38 initially attaches belt 10around the waist using buckle 20 so that ring 26 through which cord 18passes is positioned directly above the tail bone 42. Athlete 38 thenattaches an ankle strap 14 to each of the left and right ankles with itsreceiving loop 32 positioned behind the ankle directly over the achillestendon (not shown). Grasping one end of cord 18, athlete 38 connects itscorresponding clip 28 to a receiving loop 32, thus securing one end ofcord 18 to an ankle strap 14. Athlete 38 then merely grasps the otherend of cord 18 and connects its clip 28 to the other receiving loop 32.Because trainer 8 is designed to become tensioned when the sportsman isin certain positions, athlete 38 may need to relax the tension in cord18 by, for example, squatting, before attaching clips 28 to loops 32.

Athlete 38 also may increase or decrease the desired tension in cord 18by changing its length using adjustable clips 28 (FIG. 3). To obtain theproper length of cord 18 for a tennis player desirous of establishingproper lower body movement habits, the athlete 38 should stand with feetspread approximately one and one-half to two shoulder widths apart andknees bent to a comfortable position. Once athlete 38 has establishedthis position, the length of cord 18 should be adjusted so that verylittle slack remains but cord 18 has not yet become tensioned.

Adjusting cord 18 in this manner allows trainer 8 to become tensionedwhen athlete 38 attempts to straighten his knees, thus "reminding" himby resisting his upward movement that the proper position for preparingto return a tennis volley will be with knees bent. By gently forcingathlete 38 to keep his knees flexed, trainer 8 encourages maintenance ofa lower center of gravity, better balance through improved distributionof weight, and development of the lower body muscle groups. However,because cord 18 is made of elasticized material, trainer 8 will notrestrict the movement of athlete 38 when deviation from the properathletic position is required, such as when the athlete 38 must run toreach a stroked or batted ball. Although cord 18 could consist of twocord segments, each connected to an ankle strap 14 and to the back ofbelt 10, use of a single cord 18 passing freely through ring 26 of belt10 exploits the alternative flexing of the knees which occurs whileathlete 38 is running. Because one knee is flexed when the other islocked, slack in one section of cord 18 created by the flexing of theknee can be transferred to the segment corresponding to the locked kneemerely by allowing cord 18 to pass through ring 26. Utilizing a singlecord 18 thus results in less overall restriction of movement whileathlete 38 races to reach the ball.

The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustration, explanation anddescription of the present invention. Modifications to and adaptationsof the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artand may be made without departing from its scope or spirit.

We claim:
 1. A device for aiding the training of an athletecomprising:a. first and second straps for placement about the ankles ofan athlete; b. an elongated, elasticized member having two ends; c.means for receiving the elongated member, the receiving means includingan opening with an interior of a size greater than the transversedimension of the elongated member for allowing unrestricted passage ofthe elongated member through the opening; d. means for positioning thereceiving means at an athlete's waist near the center of an athlete'sback; and the elongated member is received by the opening one end isconnected to the first strap and the other end is connected to thesecond strap when the device is worn by an athlete.
 2. A deviceaccording to claim 1 in which the positioning means comprises:a. a beltfor placement about an athlete's waist; and b. a plate attached to thebelt.
 3. A device according to claim 2 in which the receiving means is aring rigidly connected to the plate.
 4. A device according to claim 3 inwhich the belt comprises:a. cellular foam padding; and b. vinyl coating.5. A device for aiding the training of an athlete comprising:a. anelongated, elasticized member having two ends and a predetermined lengthfor providing a pulling force between an athlete's waist and anathlete's ankles when the device is worn by an athlete; b. a clipremovably attached near each end of the elongated member; c. means foradjusting the length of the elongated member between the clips; d. apair of ankle straps, each strap for placement about an ankle of anathlete and for attachment to a clip when the device is worn by anathlete; e. a belt for placement about the waist of an athlete; f. aplate at least partially embedded in the belt; and g. a ring rigidlyconnected to the plate, the ring having an interior size greater thanthe transverse dimension of the elongated member for allowingunrestricted passage of the elongated member through the ring andpositioning at least a portion of the elongated member near the centerof an athlete's back when the device is worn by an athlete.
 6. A deviceaccording to claim 5 in which the adjusting means comprises at least oneretaining loop.
 7. A device according to claim 5 in which the beltcomprises:a. cellular foam padding; and b. vinyl coating.